Little Red was a fine, little red rooster with glossy feathers flashing all the colors of the rainbow in the Southland sunshine. He was “boss” over a dozen pretty Rhode Island Red hens. Their pen had a high chain-link fence around it, and it was at the edge of a range of rugged, rocky hills that had a large coyote population. Little Red, the hens and two large “guard” dogs lived at Mr. Steven’s place. Since both the dogs and coyotes liked catching chickens, life for them outside of their pen was dangerous. Little Red, however, loved to live dangerously. He often flew over the fence right into the jaws of danger! Soon some daring hens followed their exciting leader.
All went well at first, but high among the rocks greedy coyote eyes were watching all that was going on below. This was bad enough, but even worse the very guard dogs forgot their manners in a hungry moment of temptation one day and... crunch! (Delicious, those little fat hens!) Sad to say a couple of the hens did not make it back to the pen. Even cocky Little Red himself had a close shave with death when Mrs. Stevens, just in time, spied the larger dog carrying him off behind a rock! Do you think he learned his lesson? As usual, he crowed and bragged the next day as he flew over the fence again!
Would you like to be compared with a silly chicken like that? Of course not! But just what kind of “wisdom” do you use when you slip out into Satan’s world with friends you know will lead you in a wrong path, as Little Red led the foolish hens of his flock? You may be living in the shelter of a Christian home and attend a lovely Sunday school, but you know that you are not really saved and safely in the Good Shepherd’s very own fold. Does this describe you? Or perhaps you are saved, but you love to do just what you want to do. Jesus said, “I am the Good Shepherd: the Good Shepherd giveth His life for the sheep.” John 10:1111I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep. (John 10:11). In 1 Peter 2:2424Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed. (1 Peter 2:24) we are told how He took on His own self that awful punishment from God which had to be poured out against sin—our own wretched sins for which we deserve everlasting death. You see, sin is a very, very serious thing in God’s sight. Hover, Jesus is a trustworthy keeper of His flock. He is not at all like the treacherous dogs who ate those poor hens. No one out in Satan’s world can be fully trusted. Remember our great Enemy has had thousands of years of practice in ruining boys and girls and men and women. And he has many helpers.
Now back to the chicken pen. One bright moonlight night about six coyotes made a bold, well-planned raid right up to the pen in the very sight of Mr. Steven’s house. They outnumbered the dogs and chased them away and almost got into the chicken pen. But Mr. Stevens heard the noise and came running. A shot from his rifle rang out, and the battle was over as the coyotes slipped off into the darkness.
By now Little Red should have been frightened into being a sensible chicken. He might have lived to a good, old age in the shelter of the high fence and Mr. Steven’s care. But we are sorry to say that he would not or could not learn the ways of wisdom. The last time we visited the little home, he was no more. Some dirty red and black feathers were blowing sadly among the rocks above his once happy home. He had played outside the protection of the pen and lost his life.
You, too, are in danger of losing your opportunity to have everlasting life. You have everything to lose by waiting or refusing God’s offer to be saved. But you have everything—even heaven itself—to gain by accepting God’s free salvation.
ML-08/01/1982